Friction draft gear



FRICTION DRAFT GEAR Filed March 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIII 8 'IIIIIIL l I 4- INVENTOR HARRY F. WOERNLEY ATTORNEY Feb. 9, 1932. H. F. WOERNLEY 1,844,197

FRICTION DRAFT GEAR Filed March 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR HARRY F'. WOERNLEV ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY F. WOERNLEY, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CARDWELL WESTINGHOUSE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .A.

' CORPORATION or DELAWARE FRICTION DRAFT GEAR Application filed March 2,

This invention relates to draft rigging for railwaycars and more particularly to fric-l tion draft rigging for use in passenger equipment cars. 7

When cars equipped with the usual friction draft rigging are coupled together in a train, the usual primary service shocks incident to the starting and stopping of the train are substantially wholly resisted through. the operation of the friction elements of the draft riggings, and as these elements are not capable of cushioning such light shocks, a more or less rigid connection exists between adjacent cars, consequently these service shocks will be transmitted from one car to another, resulting in a very jerky action throughout the train, which is objectionable, for the reason that it causes discomfort to the passengers, causes unnecessary strains to be placed on the car parts and renders the operation of the'train noisy. V

The principal object of my invention is to provide a friction draft rigging for railway cars which will efiectively cushion ordinary service shocks or strains incident to the operation of a train of coupled cars without bringing the friction elements of the draft riggings into operation, thus eliminating the objectionable features mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following more detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional plan view of the draft rigging, the several parts thereof being shown in their normal positions; Fig. 2 is a like view showing the several parts of the rigging in their initial cushioning positions, just prior to the operation of the friction elements; Fig. 3 is a like view showing the rigging fully compressed; Fig. 4 is a sec tional view, like Fig. 1, of a modification of the invention; and Fig. 5'is a detail sectional view of Fig. 1. V

r The draft rigging shown in Figs. lto 3 inclusive of the drawings, may comprise a hollow rectangular casing 1 having front and rear sections 2 and 3 respectively, which are secured together by bolts 4 or any other 1928. Serial No. 258,623.

desired means. Thefront' section 21 contains alternated friction plates 5 and 6 which are disposedat opposite 1 sides of a wedging mechanism, the plates 5 being wedge shaped and anchored to the section 2 and the plates 6 having parallel friction faces. 'Under extr aordinar'y draft strains the casing and plates 5 are movable relative to the plates 6 and'under extraordinary buffing stresses the plates 6 are movable relative to the casing and plates 5. i

Contained in the section 3 are springs 7 and 8, the rear endsof whichseat on. amovable spring seat or follower member 9. having a central portion 10 which normally" extends through an opening in the rear wall 11 of the section and abuts a rear follower 12, which is engaged by the rear portion of a draft yoke 13. If desired, the member 9 and rear fol lower'12 maybe made integral. 7

The forward end of the spring 7 seats on a shoulder or stop 14 which the rear end of 1 the section 2 of the casingforms, and also seats on the inner ends of the friction plates 6, the front ends of these plates 6 abutting a front follower 15. This follower'passes between the sides of the draft yoke and normally abuts, front draft lugs or. stops 16 which may be secured to the draft sills (not shown). of the car-in the usual manner. The forward end portion of the yoke is attached to the butt'17 of the coupler, which butt normally abuts the front face of'the-follo'wer'15. The rear follower 12 normally abuts against rear draft lugs or stops 18 which, like the frlclmt draft lugs, may be secured to the draft s1 s. i V r The wedging mechanism, hereinbefore referred to, comprises longitudinally disposed wedge blocks 19 and 20 having opposed wedging faces adapted to engage corresponding wedging faces of wedge blocks 21 and 22, the outer faces of said blocks 21 and 22 frictionally engaging the plates 5. The outer end of thewedge block19 is engaged by the rear face of the front follower 15 and has a rearwardly extending stem 23, the rear end portion of which is loosely mounted in a recess Qfformed in the wedge block 20.

The wedge block 20, rearwardly of its wedging faces, is provided with shoulders 25 upon which the forward end of the spring 8 seats, and is also provided with a rearwardly extending spring guide or lug 26 which the spring 8 surrounds.

The spring 7 is held under initial com,- pression by the shoulder 1 1 of the section 2 of the casing and the spring 8, and all of the working parts associated therewith are locked under initial compression, through the medium of a key 27 which extends vertically through slotted openings in the top ing and through an opening the stem 23;, the slotted openings in the casing permitting relative movement between the casing and the key. I i To'prevent accidental endwise movement of the key 27, a pin 28 is provided, which extends through a longitudinal bore in the stem 23, and engages the key within a notch formed intermediate the ends of the key, which pin is held in this position by the pressure of a spring 29 contained in the recess 24 in the wedge block 20. e 1 In the present embodiment of the invention, the plates 5 are provided with topand bottom extensions 30 which, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, may extend into openings formed in the top and bottom walls 'of the section 2 of the casing, the vertical edges of the extensions-being adapted to engage'the casing, thus anchoringtheplates to the easing so that there will be no undue relative longitudinal movement between the casing and the plates. q: q

In operation, when the'draft rigging. is subjected to draft strains, the draft yoke 13, rear follower plate 12, and spring seat 9 are moved forward, and the springs 7 and:8 compressed. 'These springs are preferably of such a capacity that they will'resist and cushion ordinary shocks, incident to the pulling of the cars The wedging mechanism does not 'assist in cushioning these ordinary draft shocks, for the reason that the plates 6, against whichone end-of the spring 7 seats, are maintained stationary by their cooperation with the front follower 15 which abuts the front draft lugs 16. I i

Should the draft strain on the draft yoke be greater than can be wholly cushioned by the springs 7 and 8, the yoke will draw the rear follower 12 into operative engagement with the rear wall 11 of the casing'and'then, through the medium of this follower',move the casing and the wedge shaped plates 5 forward as a unit. Vith this movement of the casing and plates 5, the plates 6 and wedge block 19 remain stationary, due to their on 'ga gement with the front follower 15, which is in operative engagement with the "front draft lugs 16. As'this forward movement of the casing and plates5 is'continued,'thel ateralpressure of the friction'elements 'of'the wit he Wsdging f of the w dg lock ,9, which block isfstaticnary, the blocks '21 and- 22 will be moved rearwardly, The pressure of the wedge blocks 21 and 22 will also -cause L the wedge block 20 to move rearwardly and bottom walls of the section 2 ofth'ecas 'ag'iins't 'the'pressure of the spring 8. It will further be noted that, as the ends of the plates 6 are abutted against the front follower 15, the forward movement-of the casing and spring. seat or followenmember 9 will further compress the springs 7 and 8;

In releasing the rigging the press'ure'of the springs 7 and 8 acts upon .the spring seat 9 to move said seat, follower 12and draft-yoke 13 rearwardly until said seatengages the inner face of the rear wall 111' of the casing, when the pressureof bothLsprings acting through the follower member 9 will cause the casing and plates 5 tomove rearwardlyas a unit, thus relieving the pressure on the wedge blocks 21 and 22,- permittingthe pressure of the. spring 8, through the .medium'of the wedge block 20, to move the blocks 21 and 22 forward to their. normal positions as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, w-: c When the d raftgear is subjected to buffing stresses, the 'casing, together with all ofth'e friction elements, are first moved rearwardly as a unit, and as the 'member9 remains stationary, being. abutted against the rear follower .12, which in turn. abuts the fixed rear draft lugs 18, there will bea preliminary relative movement between the casingiand the member 9, which movement may continue until the rear wall. 11 of the casing enga'ges the rear follower 12. .-If. the bufling shock is too great to be absorbed .by the springs? and 8, the friction plates GTandwed'ge block 19 4 will be. moved rearwardly-by the front follower 15, when substantially the same wedging action, as hereinbefore describedziin connection with the 'idr aftstrains, will take place. i y

In releasing the 'gear after bufiing, the pressure of the springs '7 and 8 acting on the plates 6 caus'ethe casing, all of the friction elements and frontifollower '15 to move forward as a unit until'the rear end'of the casing engages the member 9, when the pressure'of the spring will force the' plates6andfront follower 15 forward rela'tive 'to the casing andplates 5 until the follower "15 engages the 1 front draft lugs 16. At the s'ameltime'the gagement with said key.-

has been illustrated in which the casing 1 is a single integral member, and in which the spring 7 seats on the inner ends of the plates 5 and 6 instead of directly on the casing and on the plates 6 as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive. By making the casing in one piece the manufacture and repair of the rigging is facilitated, in that all of the parts may be inserted in, or removed from, the front end of the casing. As the plates 5 are anchored to the casing 1 the operation of the draft rigas the rigging I ging is substantially the same hereinbefore described.

While two illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to these embodiments or otherwisethan by the terms of the appended claim.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to Patent, is

In a shock absorbing mechanism the combination with a casing, of friction elements in said casing, a stem projecting rearwardly from one of said elements, a key extending through said stem and casing, a pin in said stem for locking said key and means interposed between said pin and another of said elements for holding said pin in locking en- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARRY F. WOERNLEY.

secure by Letters 

